started · updated
Germany addiction specialists call for stricter gambling advertising regulation
German addiction specialists are calling for stricter regulations on gambling advertising, arguing that current marketing tactics normalize gambling and mask its risks. Verena Küpperbusch, head of the NRW addiction specialist center in Bielefeld, noted that advertisements often use emotional messaging, bonus promises, and links to sports and entertainment to present gambling as harmless leisure.
Data from the 2025 Gambling Survey indicates that 3.14 million people in Germany engage in risky gambling, while 1.25 million suffer from gambling disorders. In North Rhine-Westphalia alone, approximately 682,000 people are identified as risky players and 273,000 are considered addicted.
The gambling industry spent over 620 million euros on advertising in Germany in 2025, making it one of the top ten industries by advertising budget. Specialists are using the upcoming national action day against gambling addiction on September 30 to push for these regulatory changes.
Entities
Germany · Landesfachstelle Sucht NRW · North Rhine-Westphalia · Oasis · Verena Küpperbusch
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] Approximately 3.14 million people in Germany engage in risky gambling. supertipp-online.de · www.dorstenerzeitung.de · www.recklinghaeuser-zeitung.de · www.ruhrnachrichten.de
- [● 4 SOURCES] In North Rhine-Westphalia, approximately 682,000 people gamble at risky levels and 273,000 are classified as addicted. supertipp-online.de · www.dorstenerzeitung.de · www.recklinghaeuser-zeitung.de · www.ruhrnachrichten.de
- [● 4 SOURCES] Around 1.25 million people in Germany have a gambling disorder. supertipp-online.de · www.dorstenerzeitung.de · www.recklinghaeuser-zeitung.de · www.ruhrnachrichten.de
- [● 4 SOURCES] State addiction specialists are calling for significantly stricter regulation of gambling advertising. supertipp-online.de · www.dorstenerzeitung.de · www.recklinghaeuser-zeitung.de · www.ruhrnachrichten.de
- [● 4 SOURCES] Gambling advertising contributes to normalizing gambling as an everyday part of life. supertipp-online.de · www.dorstenerzeitung.de · www.recklinghaeuser-zeitung.de · www.ruhrnachrichten.de
- [● 4 SOURCES] The gambling industry in Germany spent more than 620 million euros on advertising in 2025. supertipp-online.de · www.dorstenerzeitung.de · www.recklinghaeuser-zeitung.de · www.ruhrnachrichten.de